The Royal Trophy – Europe vs Asia Golf Championship is a unique, emotionally-charged and passionate competition played between the continents of Europe and Asia in a team match-play format.

The best players from Europe compete against the golfing elite of Asia in a spectacular series of matches for stewardship over the perpetual 16-kilogram Royal Trophy, graciously donated by His Majesty the King of Thailand.

The event is expected to produce record-breaking galleries, hightly competitive golf and great atmosphere all around.

For more information :
Entertainment Group Limited,  Tel : +852 2834 0060
Entertainment and Sports Co., Ltd., Tel : +662 651 9499
Website : www.theroyaltrophy.com

Dairy farming has been associated with the rolling hills of Saraburi since the 50s when pioneering farmers experimented with imported cattle. Today it is an important industry that supplies most of the popular milk products that are sold in supermarkets across the country.

Farms are concentrated mainly northeast of Saraburi town in Muak Lek district all the way to the Pak Chong intersection on Highway 2 heading towards Nakhon Ratchashima.

With the mountains of the famous Khao Yai National Park in the distance, diary meadows nestle between hills on both sides of Highway 2.

Not surprisingly, this undulating country is the home of the National Dairy Cows Festival. All of the celebrations and activities that will interest visitors will take place at the foot of Tapan Hill in Muak Lek district, approximately 39 km northeast of Saraburi, or 145 km from Bangkok.

Festivities begin with a royal visit from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who will graciously open the event which will feature seminars, a fair and concerts.

Visitors are probably most familiar with Chok Chai Farm one of the pioneers of the cowboy culture in Thailand. Today the farm has expanded to offer farm tours with various attractions including a zoo that appeals to families and groups. In the grand tradition of the cowboy the ranch is proud of its rustic timber restaurant serving up tender T-bone steaks.

While individual farms in Saraburi run fine restaurants and adopt a country western themes, come 20 January they unite to host the annual Cowboy Night at the Tapan Hill venue in Muak Lek district.

The event launches with dairy cow contests, but quickly takes on a carnival atmosphere with light hearted rivalry to declare who is sporting the best cowboy or cowgirl costumes.

According to Saraburi province’s tourism office the cowboy festival evolves into an amazing scene as hundreds of “Thai cowboys travel from different parts of the country to enjoy country western  music, an exhibition of dairy and beef cow farming, cow contests, whip-cracking, roping and lariat show, and fancy gun handling. The festival venue even uses haystacks instead of tables and chairs.”

Muak Lek district has three resorts, a health spa and a couple of campsites catering to international visitors. The district is best known for its picturesque landscape, vineyards, river rafting, ATV expeditions, hot air ballooning, mountain bike trails and even a farm where children can learn to ride horses.  Most of the resorts are in Muak Lek district on the rural road 2089 that winds around 300-metre high hills from the intersection on Highway 2.

For more details call TAT Lop buri tel: 036-422-768

Loy Krathong festival is a Thai tradition which has been conducted for a long time ago. Loy Krathong has been held since the middle of the eleventh to the middle of the twelfth lunar month, which is a great flood season- especially on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month. When the moon shines at night, it makes rivers clear. It is very beautiful scenery which is suitable for floating krathong.

In the past, we called “Loy Krathong” as “Chong Pa Rieng”- floating lantern of royal ceremony. It is a Brahman festival to worship Gods- Siva, Vishnu, and Brahma. When Thai people adopted Buddhism, they adapted this ceremony to honor the Buddha’s cremated bone- the original Buddha at the second heaven ruler. They floated lantern to worship the foot-print of the Buddha on Nammathanati River beach in India.

Floating krathong along the river was created by Nang Noppamas; the most favorite concubine’s Sukhothai king. She made krathong as lotus-shaped. The king of Sukhothai floated it along the river. According to Sri Chula Luck’s treatise, Phra Ruang (Sukhothai king) said “From now on, on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month, kings of Siam have to make floating lantern- like lotus-shaped- to worship the foot-print of the Buddha on Nammathanati River for ever after.”

In Rattanakosin period, people often made big and beautiful krathong. According to Chao Phraya Dhipharachawong’s historical annals said:-

“In the twelfth lunar month on 14 and 15 waxing moon, I ask for members of the royal family and civil servants making big-sized krathongs- look like banana trunk rafts, they size 8-9 sauk width (an ancient Thai measure of length) and 10-11 sauk tall. They make for contesting each other. For example, some imitate krathong as Mount Meru – shaped and others make krathong as basket decorated with flowers. There are a lot of people to do these so they use a lot of money- about 20 chung (an ancient measure of weight).”

Nowadays, Loy Krathong festival is held in mostly Thai provinces. Particularly in Chiangmai, it has krathong parade, contestation of making krathongs, and Noppamas beauty pageants contest.

The villagers in northern and north-eastern parts of Thailand often float lanterns. They are made of color paper. If they float in the afternoon, they will use smoke for floating lanterns while they use torch to set smoke in lanterns to float them in wind chill at night. We can see the light from lantern in the sky with moonshine and stars’ glitter at night, which is very beautiful.

Interesting stories about Loy Krathong

There are many legends of Loy Krathong:-
1. Loy Krathong is to ask for forgiveness Pra Mae Khongkha.
2. According to Brahma belief, Loy Krathong is to worship God.
3. Loy Krathong is to welcome Buddha when he came back to the world- he had stayed in the Buddhist temple during the rainy season at the second heaven ruler to teach his mother.
4. Loy Krathong is to worship foot-print of Buddha on the Nammathanati River beach.
5. Loy Krathong is to worship Chulamanee in the heaven where the Buddha’s hair is buried.
6. Loy Krathong is to worship Bhakabhrama in heaven.
7. Loy Krathong is to worship Uppakutta-dhera who observed religious precept at the middle portion of the sea.

Loy Krathong’s history in Thailand
Loy Krathong in Thailand originated in Sukhothai period as “Loy Phra Pra Teip” or “Loy Khom” (floating lantern). It is a festival of Thai people. After that, Noppamas- the most favorite concubine’s Sukhothai king – created krathong, like lotus-shaped, for floating in the river. Instead of floating lantern, it used for worshipping the foot-print of Buddha at Nammathanati River beach in Thakkhinabodh district, India. As we called “Nehrabhuddha river.”

Loy Krathong at the present
Nowadays, Thai people still keep form suitably; on the full moon of the twelfth, people usually prepare natural materials to make krathong. For example, they use banana trunk and lotus to make beautiful krathong then stick candle, incense stick, and flowers in krathong. They always ask for good luck in the future and forgiveness Pra Mae Khongkha.

At the temples and tourist places, they held contestation of making krathong and Noppamas beauty pageants contest. There are many entertainment shows at night. Moreover, they set cautiously fireworks. The materials, used for making krathong, could be easily decomposed.

Reasons for Loy Krathong
We can conclude the reasons for Loy Krathong in Thailand that:-
1. To ask for forgiveness Pra Mae Khongkha because we use and drink water. Moreover, we often throw rubbishes and excrete wasted things in the water.
2. To worship the foot-print of the Buddha on Nammathanati River beach in India.
3. To fly away misfortune and bad things like floating sin- Bhrama ceremony.
4. To pay respect to Uppakhud whom mostly northern villagers show their gratitude for. According to legend, he was a monk who had supernatural to kill Mara.
Krathong could be made from anything else such as banana leaves, banana trunks, coconut barks, paper, and etc. Stuck with incense stick and candle to make a wish and float it in the river.

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Loikrathong’s lyrics
November full moon shines,
Loi Krathong, Loi Krathong,
and the water’s high
in the river and local klong,

Loi Loi Krathong,
Loi Loi Krathong,
Loi Krathong is here and everybody’s full of cheer,

We’re together at the klong,
We’re together at the klong,

Each one with this krathong,
As we push away we pray,
We can see a better day.

The Thai-Chinese in Phuket have long passed on the Vegetarian Festival to purify mind and soul by refraining from meat consumption and meditating. Symbolizing the presence of the deities throughout the festival are 9 lanterns lit up and placed aloft on Ko Teng poles. On the 6th day of the festival, there will be religious processions and incredible displays of face-and-body piercing. On the last day, there will be a “Koi Han” ceremony to exorcise ill fortune and a farewell ceremony for the deities at night.

It could be tagged the best golf offer in Asia and it is perfect timing as the bargains on the greens are now matched  by superb discounts offered on air travel and accommodation.

Hua Hin and Cha-am, twin resorts on the west side of the Gulf of Thailand, annually host the Hua Hin/Cha-am Golf Festival that runs throughout August and September.

For golf enthusiasts it is pure magic. The option of playing eight competition level golf courses all within easy reach of the two resorts, at incredibly low green fees, is undeniably an offer too good to refuse.

Tourism Authority of Thailand’s offices in Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces, in co-operation with the Phetchaburi- Prachuap Khiri Khan Golf Course Association, host the annual event to support tourism and promote golfing, a valuable niche market that helps the resorts to generate substantial business during the traditional low-season.

Over the last three years, the festival has been fine-tuned to the point it is now recognised as a premier event for Asia’s golfing community.

The promotional offers include the opportunity to play golf at any of the eight selected golf courses, throughout August and September, for only Bt800 — without doubt the lowest green fees of the year.

The exception is Springfield Golf Course, which will increase its green fee for September.

There are also invitations to compete in organised tournaments every Sunday for just Bt1,200 (includes caddy fee and dinner), with lots of lucky prizes. The player achieving a hole-in-one at designated holes will win a car on the last day of the festival.

There are also prizes presented for the ‘longest drive’ contests and an opportunity to shop for specially-discounted golf products with 10 to 30% reduction on Pro Shop prices at all courses.

Of course, specialised golf travel firms are keen to tap the potential of this popular festival by offering “Golf Lovers” packages at the “heavenly seaside resorts of Hua Hin and Cha-am”. The prices range from approximately Bt11,000  for two nights’ accommodation, two rounds of golf and transfers.   A five-night stay with four rounds of golf sells for around Bt19,000.  Trips can be confirmed and paid for online.

The following eight golf courses are participating in the festival :

Banyan Golf Club, Hua Hin
Tel +66 (0) 3261 6200
Fax +66 (0) 3261 6222
Email: Stacey@banyanestatehuahin.com

Imperial Lake View Hotel and Golf Club
Tel: +66 (0) 3245 6233 – 40
Fax: +66 (0) 3245 6244
E-mail: lakeview@imperialhotels.com

Springfield Village Golf and Spa
Tel: +66 (0) 3270 9222
Fax: +66 (0) 3270 9233
E-mail: playgolf@springfieldresort.com

Majestic Creek Golf and Resort
Tel: +66 (0) 3261 9168 – 70, (081) 942 3619
Fax: +66 (0) 3260 2784

Sawang Resort and Golf Club
Tel: +66 (0) 3256 2555 – 7
Fax: +66 (0) 3256 2558

Palm Hills Golf Resort and Country club
Tel: +66 (0) 3244 2460 – 1, (0) 3252 0801 – 9
Fax: +66 (0) 3244 2463
E-mail: sales_huahin@palmhills-golf.com

Kaeng Krachan Golf and Country Club
Tel: +66 (0) 3242 2145
Fax: +66 (0) 3242 2146
E-mail: info@kkcgolf.com

Royal Hua Hin Golf Golf Course
Tel: +66 (0) 3251 2475, (0) 3253 1070
Fax: +66 (0) 3251 3038
E-mail: royal_golf@hotmail.com

Date : 1 – 31 July 2009
Venue : Thung Si Mueang District, Ubon Ratchathani

Join the alms-giving for Asalha Puja and the Khao Phansa Buddhist ceremony. Participate in the ceremony of welcoming His Majesty the King’s royal candle and the international candle-carving competition from various countries, as well as taste “Pha Khao Laeng” , a local food especially prepared for tourists.

Contact : 
TAT Ubon Ratchathani Office, Tel : 66 (0) 4524 3770-1, 66 (0) 4525 0714
Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Office, Tel : 66 (0) 4525 4827
Website : www.tatuboon.org , www.guideubon.com 

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Songkran is without doubt the most popular of all Thai festivals and rightly so.
It marks the beginning of a new astrological year and its exact dates are determined by the old lunar calendar of Siam.

This year the three-day festival falls on 13 – 15 April 2009.

There are other opportunities to join in Songkran festivities regardless of where you are travelling.

In the North:
Chiang Saen Water Festival runs from 13 to 21 April, in Chiang Saen district of Chiang Rai province. In the Golden Triangle area, where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet, a ceremony, during the day, will pay homage to the town’s Buddha image. In the evening, the visitors can join a Lanna-style dinner, known as Khan Tok, or shop for handicrafts on a street closed to traffic, also the venue for folk dance performances.

Si Satchanalai Water Festival, from 13 to 15 April, at Si Satchanalai district, Sukhothai province, features parades and water splashing in the Si Satchanalai Historical Park.  The town is 67 km north of Sukhothai and is a popular stop on Around North Thailand tours.

Northeast
Thai-Lao Water Festival, from 13 to 17 April, plays out on the banks of the Mekong River in Nong Khai town that faces Laos and its capital, Vientiane. Sports competitions will be organized in the week preceding the festival.

Koon Flower and Sticky Rice Road and Water Festival  in Khon Kaen province, features parades, performances and water splashing on Si Chan Road, known as sticky rice road for its profusion of vendors selling this staple northeast food.

Ubon Ratchathani Water Festival, in the city centre, will feature a Thai-Indochina Food Festival at Thung Si Mueang Park, which will sell specialty dishes and food items representative of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Nakhon Phanom Water Festival has an unusual theme of noodles.  The main event will be held on Sinthorn Vichit Road or Khao Pun Road (rice flour noodle road) where booths will sell products and dishes made of rice flour noodles, the specialty of this province.

Central
Bangkok Water Festival gets underway,12 April, with a sound and light show at  Arun Ratchawararam Temple, from 1800 to 2100. This year, the city will focus on a traditional style Songkran Festival by supporting and inviting people to make merit at temples and return to their villages up-country to be with their families. Water splashing on streets in the business district will be discouraged.
However, the city is promoting its “Passport to nine royal temples” for those who visit temples during the festival, with an incentive to win prizes. Water splashing will be encouraged only in specific areas such as Khao Sarn Road.

Phrapadaeng Water Festival, which follows different dates than most of the celebrations, will be hosted, 18 to 20 April, in front of Phrapradaeng district office, Samut Prakarn province. There will be parades, Thai-Mon traditional sports and performances.

Eastern seaboard
Bangsaen Water Festival, 16 to 17 April, is held a week after national celebrations at Bangsaen beach in Chonburi province. A competition to determine the most artistic sand pagoda takes centre stage with more than 100 miniature pagodas sculptured from the sand.

Pattaya Water Festival follows on from Bangsaen, 17 to 20 April. The water splashing celebration first moves to Na-Klua, a  village just north of Pattaya, 18 April, Pattaya beach, 19 April and finally moving, 20 April, to  Sattahip, a fishing and Naval town on the eastern seaboard.

South
Ranong Mineral Water Festival runs from 12 to 15 April, at Raksawarin Public Park in the centre of Ranong town, located on the Andaman Sea coast, some 300 km north of Phuket.
Here, people will enjoy the luxury of splashing mineral water on one another following the style witnessed in Myanmar’s traditional festivities. Also, during the four days, there will be booths selling tourism products and packages to Ranong province and other Andaman coast destinations.

Hat Yai Midnight Songkran, will be hosted 12 to 14 April, at Nipat Uthit Road in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province. The water splashing will start from 22:00, 12 April to midnight on 13 April. Ceremonies to sprinkle water on the town’s Buddha images will be conducted on the mornings of 13 and 14 April.

In a way, Songkran is not only a refreshing solution to “beating the heat” in the hottest season of the year, but also the time for reunions and family ties are renewed. During this very special National Holiday, Thai citizens will find time to perform their annual rites of showing respect to their ancestors. The highlight of the festival will include the younger Thais paying respect to their elders by sprinkling their hands with flower-scented water. Also, the festivities would include the forming of sand pagodas and entertaing celebrations nationwide.

Songkran or Water Festival is a Thai traditional New Year which starts on April 13 every year and lasts for 3 days. Songkran festival on April 13 is Maha Songkran Day or the day to mark the end of the old year, April 14 is Wan Nao which is the day after and April 15 is “Wan Thaloeng Sok” which the New Year begins. At this time, people from the rural areas who are working in the city usually return home to celebrate the festival. Thus, when the time come, Bangkok temporarily turns into a deserted city.

The values for community is to provide the opportunity to create unity in the community such as to jointly acquire merits, to meet each other and to enjoy the entertaining events. And for the society value is to create concern upon environment with cooperation such as to clean houses, temples, public places and official buildings. Thais value the religion bye means of merits acquisition, offerings alms to monks, Dhamma Practice, listening to sermon and monks-bathing.

In the afternoon, after performing a bathing rite for Buddha Images and the monks, the celebrants both young and old, joyfully splash water on each other. The most-talked about celebration takes place in the northern province of Chiang Mai where Songkran is celebrated from April 13 to 15. During this period, people from all parts of the country flock there to enjoy the water festival, to watch the Miss Songkran Contest and the beautiful parades.

Songkran is a Thai word which means “move” or “change place” as it is the day when the sun changes its position in the zodiac. It is also known as the “Water Festival” as people believe that water will wash away bad luck. The Songkran tradition is recognized as a valuable custom for the Thai community, society and religions. The value for family is to provide the opportunity for family members to gather in order to express their respects to the elders by pouring scented water onto the hands of their parents and grandparents and to present them gifts including making merits to dedicate the result to their ancestors. The elders in return wish the youngsters good luck and prosperity.

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An important public holiday is held on 5 December to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest reigning monarch. Known in Thai as ‘Wan Chalerm’, the occasion is marked by an outpouring of love and reverence by Thai people throughout the kingdom and around the world.

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama IX, ascended the throne on 9 June 1946. The King has won a special place in the hearts of the Thai people through his combination of devotion to the welfare and development of his people, and a keen understanding and awareness of political and social issues. As an institution, His Majesty has provided a firm foundation for the country to weather the trials and turmoil that have beset the region since the end of World War II. Today, His Majesty continues to play a central role in a wide spectrum of national and social development schemes.

On 5 December, buildings and homes all over the country are elaborately adorned with flags, portraits of His Majesty and bunting, predominantly in the color yellow. Around the Grand Palace and Ratchadamnoen Avenue areas of Bangkok, thousands of vividly colored marigolds decorate the streets.

On the evening of the holiday itself, the streets around Ratchadamnoen and Sanam Luang are closed to traffic and thousands of people take to the streets. Spectacular fireworks displays are held and the atmosphere is joyous and festive.

The best way to enjoy the atmosphere is to take a bus to the Rattanakosin area, and just stroll along the crowded but traffic-free streets for a truly memorable experience.

Tens of thousands of people in yellow shirts and waving yellow flags packed the streets around the Grand Palace in Bangkok where Bhumibol made a rare public appearance from the balcony of his ceremonial Throne Hall only the sixth such appearance in his 61-year reign.

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